Discussion Topic
The significance and symbolism of the power outage in "The Glass Menagerie."
Summary:
The power outage in "The Glass Menagerie" symbolizes the family's financial struggles and the emotional disconnect between its members. It highlights the fragility and instability of their lives, mirroring the delicate nature of Laura's glass figurines. This event also serves as a catalyst for the interactions that follow, deepening the play's themes of reality versus illusion.
What does the power failure in Scene 7 of "The Glass Menagerie" signify, both literally and figuratively?
In Scene 7, the power goes off because Tom has not paid the bill, having used the money to join the Union of Merchant Seamen. With the electricity gone, candles are used to light the room, lending shadows, thus allowing reality to be transformed into illusion, which is the purpose of Expressionistic plays such as "The Glass Menagerie." In the darkened corners of the room, shy Laura hides; however, Jim brings her out of these shadows by literally asking her to move, and by figuratively giving her some confidence in herself.
Light plays an important role in this final scene. It lends an unearthly beauty to Laura, bringing out her fragile nature, and it suggests illusion. Her virginal presence in white with the candles, suggests a religious ceremony. Tennessee Williams's stage directions mention this symbolism:
JIM lights a cigarette and leans indolently back...smiling at LAURA with a...
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warmth and charm which lights her inwardly with altar candles.
Over the light Jim handles the glass unicorn. Laura tells Jim, "You see how the light shines through him?" When they dance, Jim tells Laura "I'm not made of glass." But, they bump into the table, knocking off the unicorn whose horn breaks. Now, the unicorn is not odd; like Laura at this moment, he is normal.
As Jim and Laura sit and talk, they sip lemonade brought by Amanda, who spills it, saying, "Ooo! I'm baptizing myself!" The religious symbolism continues with the lighted candles. When Jim reveals that he is to be married, the stage directions make allude to this symbolism:
The holy candles in the altar of LAURA's face have been snuffed out. There is a look of almost infinite desolation.
Then, while Tom as narrator looks in at Laura, he tells Laura that no matter how far he has gone, he cannot forget her; he runs to the movies, he drinks in order to "blow your candles out!" Tom tells her "Blow out your candles, Laura--and sogoodby..." She bends over the candles, ending the play. The illusion is finished.
In "The Glass Menagerie," what does the power outage during dinner symbolize?
The lack of electricity is an indication of Tom's irresponsibilty in not paying the bill. However, the darkness and candlelight afford Tennessee Williams better opportunity for the expressionism of his play, "The Glass Menagerie," thus furthering the theme of illusion. In such dim light, Laura can overcome her shyness surrounded by shadows. The expressionistic stage direction states,
Jim lights a cigarette and leans indolently back on his elbos smiling at LAURA with a warmth and charm which lights her inwardly with altar candles.
The "altar candles" represent the unearthly qualities of Laura and of her lack of connection to the real world. Truly, she is like her little glass animals who merely reflect the light. At the close of Tom final speech, Laura is seen blowing out these candles, thus ending the play. Tom says,
'For nowadays the world is lit by lightning! Blow out your candles, Laura--and so goodbye...'
The lights going out serves two purposes in the play. First, it establishes the need to light the candles. The candlelight creates a soft and even romantic atmosphere for Laura and Jim's time together. The candles, still burning, then light the stage for Tom's final speech at the end of the play. While Tom as narrator speaks, explaining what his life had become after leaving St. Louis, Laura and Amanda are seen in pantomime in the St. Louis apartment immediately after Tom had left, still in candlelight. The play ends when Laura blows out the final candle. Also, the lights going out contribute to the development of Tom's character when we find out that he had not paid the electric bill, but instead had used to money to pay his dues in the Merchant Marine. Tom had made definite plans to leave prior to Jim's coming to dinner, without telling his mother and sister.
What does the power outage during dinner symbolize in "The Glass Menagerie"?
The lights going out in the middle of dinner have both a literal meaning, Tom did not pay the electric bill, and a figurative meaning, it is a foreshadowing of what will happen to Amanda and Laura at the end of the play.
During the dinner with the gentleman caller, Jim, the lights go out because Tom has neglected, on purpose, to pay the electric bill, using the money instead to pay his dues as a Merchant Seaman. Tom is planning to leave his mother and sister very soon.
The foreshadowing occurs because Williams gives us an indication of what will happen to Amanda and Laura, they will be left both literally and figuratively in the dark when Tom abandons them.
Amanda and Laura depend on Tom for financial support, when he walks out on them, they are stranded in the dark, with no money to pay the electric bill, and no options.
Laura is left with darkness when Jim, the gentleman caller, admits to being engaged to another girl. Her one chance at happiness is cut short. Laura is abandoned by her brother, who can no longer put up with their mother's nagging and demanding ways.
Amanda's world goes dark as she is shocked and saddened by learning of Jim's status as an engaged man and Tom's abrupt and angry exit from the apartment.